Content warning: In this episode, our guest briefly mentions suicidal thoughts experienced in early sobriety.    Dr. Jeff Simone joins Sober Stories host Beth Bowen to discuss his experience in recovery from “all things” specifically opioids and alcohol. Jeff shares his story of going through pharmacy school and his early career while in active addiction, and how he found sobriety after years of Opioid Use Disorder. Beth and Jeff talk about “desert days” — those early days (and months, or years) in sobriety when it all feels really terrible and we’re at high risk for return to substance use. Jeff explains what “Recovery Capital” means, and how true recovery requires a bio-psycho-social approach to all areas of our life. Beth and Jeff discuss what the sober community is getting right, what the sober community is getting wrong, and how we can fix that. Jeff shares a moving story of reading his son a bedtime story and coming to the decision to get sober, no matter the cost. Jeff shares what his story would be called: "A Pharmacist’s Journey Into & Out of Hell."   Dr. Jeff Simone is a Doctor of Clinical Pharmacology, living in the greater Philadelphia area. Jeff battled an opioid and amphetamine addiction that he first sought treatment for in 2013. After several difficult years, he achieved sustained remission in 2016 and is currently living a life of full abstinence. Jeff founded Reaction Recovery in 2019 where he currently works one on one with individuals who are seeking to achieve greater emotional and physical stability on their own recovery journeys. Jeff has coached over 150 clients and families, centered on the biopsychosocial model. Jeff also hosts the podcast “Surviving Opioids - Beyond an Epidemic.”   Connect with Jeff: Instagram - @reactionrecovery Website - https://reactionrecovery.com/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/comingup123 Podcast - Surviving Opioids - Beyond an Episodemic      Other Resources Mentioned:   Book - The Body Keeps the Score   Save 10% off your next Lyre’s NA Spirits order with code SOBERSTORIES10TEN     Support Sober Stories: Follow us on Instagram - @wearesoberstories Follow us on TikTok - @wearesoberstories Receive email updates